ACIDS, BASES

AND SALTS

CHEMI STRY
GENERAL PROPERTIES
• They have a bitter taste.
• They are corrosive.
• They feel soapy.
• They change red litmus to blue.
• They have a pH value greater than 7.
• They conduct an electric current, i.e., they are electrolytes.
BASES
• When a base reacts with an acid, the 02- ions or OH- ions in the
base accept the H+ ions, or protons, from the acid, forming water.
For example, when sodium hydroxide reacts with hydrochloric
acid:
O H-(aq) + H+(aq) • H2O(l)

accepted
ALKALI
An alkali is a base which dissolves in water to form a solution that contains OH - ions.
Most bases are insoluble in water, most bases are not alkalis.
Potassium hydroxide (KOH) and sodium hydroxide (NaOH) which are soluble in water, and
calcium hydroxide (Ca(OH)2) which is slightly soluble:

e.g., NaOH(s) + waterNa' (a) + OH-(aq)

Ammonia gas (NH3), potassium oxide (K2O), sodium oxide (Na2O) and calcium oxide (CaO)
which react with water to form a solution containing hydroxide ions:
NH3 (g) + H20(l) NH4+ (aq) + OH-(aq)

Na20(s) + H2O(l) 2Na+ (aq) + 20H-(aq)

CHEMICAL REACTIONS OF BASES
• Bases react with acids
Bases react with acids to produce a salt and water
• Bases react with ammonium salts
When heated, bases react with ammonium salts to produce a salt, ammonia and water.
base + ammonium salt salt + ammonia + water
DISTINGUISHING BETWEEN ACIDS AND
ALKALIS
• Indicators are used to distinguish between acids and alkalis in aqueous solutions. An
indicator has one color in an acidic solution and another color in an alkaline solution.
Indicator Color In An Color In An Alkaline Solution
Acidic Solution

Litmus Red Blue

Methyl orange Red Yellow

Screened methyl orange Red Green

Phenolphthalein Colorless Pink

THE STRENGTH OF ACIDS AND ALKALIS
The strength of an acid or alkali depends on the degree of ionization which occurs when they
dissolve in water.
• A strong acid is fully ionized when dissolved in water. All the acid molecules ionize and the
concentration of H+ ions in the solution is high. Hydrochloric acid(HCI), sulfuric acid (H 2SO4)
and nitric acid (HNO3) are strong acids.

HCI(aq) H+(aq) + CI-(aq)

A weak acid is only partially ionized when dissolved in water. The solution contains a mixture of
acid molecules and H+ ions, and the concentration of H+ ions in the solution is low, ethanoic acid (
CH3COOH).

CH3COOH(aq) CH3COO-(aq) + H+(aq)

ethanoate ion
• A strong alkali is fully ionized when dissolved in water. The concentration of OH- ions in
the solution is high. Potassium hydroxide (KOH) and sodium hydroxide (NaOH) are strong
alkalis.
NaOH(aq) Na4+ (aq) + OH-(aq)

• A weak alkali is only partially ionized when dissolved in water. The concentration of OH-
ions in the solution is low. Ammonia (NH3) is a weak alkali.

NH3(g) + H2O(l) NH4+ (aq) + OH-(aq)

MEASURING
THE STRENGTH
OF ACIDS AND
ALKALIS

• The strength of an aqueous acid or alkali can be

measured on the pH scale by using universal indicator.
AMPHOTERIC OXIDES AND
HYDROXIDES
• An amphoteric oxide or hydroxide can react with both acids and strong alkalis to form a
salt and water.
amphoteric oxide or hydroxide + acid salt + water
strong alkali + amphoteric oxide or hydroxide salt + water
The oxides and hydroxides of aluminum, zinc and lead are amphoteric.
Amphoteric oxide Amphoteric Salts formed when Anion present in
hydroxide reacting with a the salt
strong alkali
Aluminum oxide Aluminum Aluminates AlO2-
hydroxide
Zinc oxide Zinc hydroxide Zincates ZnO22-
Lead (II) oxide Lead(II) hydroxide Plumbates PbO22-
CLASSIFICATION OF OXIDES
Oxides can be classified into four groups:
Acidic oxides
- Acidic oxides are oxides of some non-metals which react to form a salt and water.
Basic oxides
- Basic oxides are oxides of metals which react with acids to form a salt and water.
Amphoteric oxides
- Amphoteric oxides arc oxides of some metals which react with both acids and strong alkalis to form a salt
and water
Neutral oxides
- Neutral oxides are oxides of some non-metals which do not react with acids or alkali.
SALTS
A salt is a compound formed when some or all the hydrogen ions in an acid are replaced by
metal or ammonium ions.
CLASSIFICATION OF SALTS
Salts can be classified into two groups:
Normal salts are formed when all the H+ ions in an acid are replaced by metal or ammonium ions.
(Potassium sulfate is a normal salt. All acids can form normal salts.)
Acid salts are formed when the H+ ions in an acid only partially replaced by metal or ammonium ions.
(Potassium hydrogen sulfate is an acid salt. Only dibasic and tribasic acids can form acid salts)

The relative quantity of each reactant determines the type of salt formed by dibasic and tribasic acids.
In the two reactions above:
- A normal salt is produced when 2 mol of potassium hydroxide react with 1 mol of sulfuric acid.
- An acid salt is produced when 1 mol of potassium hydroxide reacts with 1 mol of sulfuric acid.
SALTS FORMED BY SOME COMMON ACIDS

Acid Salt Formed Anion Present Type of Salt Name of the sodium salt Formula
Hydrochloric acid (HCI) Chlorides CI Normal Sodium Chloride NaCI
Nitric acid (HNO3) Nitrates NO3 Normal Sodium Nitrate NaNO3
Ethanoic acid Ethanoates CH3COO- Normal Sodium Ethanoate CH3COONa
(CH3COOH)

Sulfuric acid Sulfates SO42- Normal Sodium Sulfate Na2SO4

(H2SO4) Hydrogen sulfates HSO4- Acid Sodium NaHCO3
Hydrogen sulfate

Carbonic acid Carbonates

CO32- Normal Sodium Carbonate Na2CO3
(H2CO3) Hydrogen carbonates
HCO3- Acid Sodium NaHC03
Hydrogen carbonate
Phosphoric acid (H3PO4) PO 43- Normal
Phosphates Sodium Phosphate disodium Na3PO4
HPO42- Acid
Hydrogenphospahtes H2PO4- acid Hydrogen phosphate sodium Na2HP04
Dihydrogen phosphates Dihydrogen phosphate
NaH2PO4
METHODS USED TO PREPARE SALTS
When preparing any salt, the following must be considered:
- The solubility of the salt being prepared.
- The solubility of the reactants being prepared.
- The hydration of the salt being prepared.
 SALTS IN EVERYDAY LIFE
Salts are important in everyday life, though some can be dangerous.
Salt Use
Sodium Hydrogen carbonate A component of baking powder used to make cakes
rise.
Sodium Benzoate To preserve food.
Sodium Chloride To preserve food.
Sodium Nitrate To preserve food.
Calcium Carbonate To manufacture cement used in the construction
industry.

Calcium Sulfate To manufacture plaster of Paris used as a building

material and for setting broken bones.

Magnesium Sulfate For various medicinal purposes, in agriculture.